Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Mount Close Estate was constructed in the 1950s and was acquired by Dolphin Living in 2016. It has become evident in recent years that substantial investment is required to modernise the existing homes on the estate, including to improve energy efficiency.

In order to fund the refurbishment works while simultaneously increasing the number of affordable homes in Ealing, Dolphin Living are proposing that new homes are built on the estate, along with a comprehensive landscaping plan.

Our proposals seek to deliver much needed and sustainably designed homes, 50% of which will be affordable, along with significant enhancements to the landscaping. Our plans include:

Redevelopment

• Of the 40 existing homes, 29 will be refurbished and 11 will be demolished and reprovided within the new buildings.
• 138 new homes will also be built, 50% of which will be affordable by habitable room.
• Introduction of high-quality landscaped areas.
• Secure communal gardens with new play opportunities.
• All mature trees around the perimeter of the estate are being retained. Of the 40 trees and hedges that currently exist on site, only 5 trees are proposed to be removed and there is a proposal to plant 68 new trees within the estate.
• Better lighting to improve security on the estate.
• Secure cycle storage.
• Improved bin storage and refuse areas.
• Electric charging points for vehicles.
• Car parking spaces for all original Mount Close residents will be provided on site.

Refurbishment

• Brand new windows and doors.
• Mechanical ventilation installed in all homes for better air quality.
• Efficient heating, cooling, and hot water systems using electric air source heat pumps, and electric panel heaters.
• Better insulation to reduce the energy needed to heat homes.
• New modern kitchens and bathrooms.
• Low-energy LED lighting to help lower energy bills.

We have submitted our planning application for the estate; however, the process of securing planning consent and appointing a contractor is complex and can take time.

It is unlikely that the works at Mount Close will commence for a few years. 

London Plan Policy T6 states that developments should be designed to provide the minimum necessary parking (with a general preference for a car-free development).

The proposal at Mount Close is for a car-free development for the new residents with the exception of four disabled parking spaces and one shared visitor bay; the only standard long-stay parking on site will be for original residents of the estate.

The use of sustainable forms of transport (buses, trains and bikes) will be encouraged for new residents. Ealing Broadway station, which provides access to multiple underground lines (including the Elizabeth Line) to Central London and other destinations, is approximately a 13–15 minute walk or a 3–5 minute bus journey from the site.

Dolphin Living endorses the introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) on Mount Avenue, Montpelier Avenue and Queen’s Walk, meaning that any new residents of the Mount Close estate will not be eligible to apply for a permit to park on surrounding roads, helping to ensure that the roads are not congested any further and are retained for the use of existing residents of the area.

Dolphin Living is committed to contributing to cover the costs of the implementation of the CPZ.

Yes, 50% of the 138 new homes that are built will be affordable housing, specifically aimed at working Londoners on modest incomes, such as keyworkers.

Yes, there will be family homes provided on site, and the full breakdown of the 178 homes will be as follows:

• One-bed – 90 homes
• Two-bed – 62 homes
• Three-bed – 26 homes

The Council is in the process of adopting a new development tax, called the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This is a charge that local authorities impose on new developments to help fund infrastructure projects needed to support those developments. This includes extra education and healthcare provision.

Dolphin Living will be required to provide a significant financial contribution towards this.

We understand that the plans represent a change for the area, however, there is a real need for more affordable homes within Ealing. For instance, only 13 affordable homes were delivered in the whole of the Borough in the year 2023/24 – our proposals seek to deliver five times this figure. While our plans seek to address this issue, we have not compromised on the living quality of residents on the estate or our neighbours.

For example, the proposed plans meet all amenity space requirements (i.e. that each home, new or existing, has access to 15sqm of outdoor amenity space) and play space requirements on-site as set out in planning policy. Further to this, 80% of all proposed homes are dual aspect and meet or exceed BRE guidance, which demonstrates that they will receive good levels of daylight and sunlight. These are all good indicators that the plans constitute an appropriate level of density on the estate and will not lead to the living quality of future residents, or our neighbours, being compromised.

Our proposal at Mount Close is for four to six storeys and has been carefully designed to appropriately respond to the surrounding context. The tallest buildings are proposed at the junction between Castlebar Park and Mount Avenue and building heights gradually lower from West to East as you move towards the two to three storey homes on Montpellier Avenue and Mount Avenue, thereby minimising the height differences to surrounding buildings where possible.

Our application has also been accompanied by a number of technical reports, which conclude that, based on national and local planning policy, our proposals do not cause any level of impact to surrounding properties that should be deemed unacceptable from a planning perspective.

There is a government requirement on Landlords to improve the energy efficiency of their homes by 2030. Building 138 net-additional homes (50% affordable by habitable room, in line with planning policy and the Dolphin Living’s charitable objectives) ensures that we can refurbish the existing homes at Mount Close to an EPC rating of B, in order to future proof the estate. The development of new homes directly funds the renovations to the existing homes.